Osteospermum plant named ‘Balserlav’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Balserlav’ characterized by its single inflorescence form with lavender-colored ray florets, violet-blue-colored disc florets, dark green-colored foliage, freely branching character, and compact, upright, and mounded growth habit.

Latin name of the genus and species of plant claimed: Osteospermum hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balserlav’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant botanically known as Osteospermum hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balserlav’.

The new Osteospermum originated in a controlled breeding program in Billerbeck, Germany, during August 1999. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Osteospermum cultivars that are freely branching, have a compact and upright growth habit, are freely flowering, and have unique inflorescence coloration.

The female parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Osteospermum hybrida breeding selection designated 09-19-98, not patented, characterized by its white-colored ray florets, yellow-colored disc florets, and vigorous growth habit. The male parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Osteospermum hybrida breeding selection 17-44-98, not patented. Seed from the above stated cross-pollination was germinated and grown to maturity. A single flowering plant within the progeny was discovered and selected by the inventor during April 2000 in a controlled environment at Billerbeck, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings taken since April 2000 at West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type, with all the characteristics as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balserlav’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant:

-   -   1. Single inflorescence form with lavender-colored ray florets         and violet-blue-colored disc florets.     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage.     -   3. Freely branching character.     -   4. Compact, upright, and mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in inflorescence color and growth habit and from plants of the male parent primarily in leaf size.

Plants of the new cultivar are most similar to the cultivar Aksinto, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,261. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differed from plants of ‘Askinto’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are taller and less spreading than         plants of ‘Aksinto’.     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger inflorescences than         plants of ‘Aksinto’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical inflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describe the colors of ‘Balserlav’. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 18 weeks in the field at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balserlav’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balserlav’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Sep. 24, 2004 between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. under natural light conditions.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown at West Chicago, Ill. in a double polycarbonate covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 18 weeks while utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 65°-78° F. (18°-25° C.) during the day and approximately 50°-60° F. (10°-15° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels were maintained at 6,000 to 9,000 footcandles during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar Balserlav. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary breeding selection 09-19-98, not             patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary breeding selection 17-44-98, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21-28 days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 10-13 weeks from rooted cutting.         -   Growth habit.—Compact. Freely branching. One or two pinches             improves basal branching.         -   Form.—Upright, mounded.         -   Size.—Height — Approximately 38.4 cm from soil level to top             of plant plane. Width to outer inflorescences (area of             spread): Approximately 28.2 cm.         -   Branch.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 4 main branches.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length from soil level to             base of peduncle: Approximately 27.2 cm. Diameter at base:             Approximately 5.5 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144B.             Internode length at middle of branch: Approximately 8.3 mm.         -   Foliage.—Quantity per branch: Approximately 33. Type:             Simple. Fragrance: Faint. Arrangement: Alternate. Aspect: At             an acute angle to the stem. Shape: Elliptic, pinnatified.             Apex: Acute. Base: Decurrent. Margin: Widely dentate.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length: Approximately 6.5 cm.             Width: Approximately 2.4 cm. Texture: Upper and lower             surface: Papillate. Color of upper surface of mature             foliage: Darker than 146A with venation of 145B. Color of             lower surface of mature foliage: 146B with venation of 145B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 10-13 weeks from             planting of rooted cutting.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering under outdoor growing             conditions with substantially continuous blooming from             spring through autumn and year round in greenhouse             environment.         -   Flower arrangement.—Solitary, terminal.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Approximately 4-6 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Type: Composite, persistent. Shape: Round.             Aspect: Slightly cupped, facing upward or outward. Disc and             ray florets develop acropetally on a capitulum. Fragrance:             None.         -   Quantity of inflorescences and buds per lateral             branch.—Approximately 1 inflorescence and 4 buds.         -   Size.—Diameter: Approximately 5.8 cm. Depth: Approximately             1.7 cm.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes from 3-6 days for buds             to progress from first color to fully open inflorescences.             Shape: Elliptic. Depth: Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 9.3 mm. Color: 144B.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 21.             Arrangement: Overlapping. Aspect: Flat to slightly concave.             Shape: Linear. Apex: Emarginate with three tips. Base:             Attentuate and fused to form tube. Margin: Entire. Length:             Approximately 3.2 cm. Width at widest point: Approximately             7.2 mm. Testure: Glabrous and ribbed. Color of upper and             lower surface of fully open ray floret: N74C with ribs of             N87B.         -   Disc.—Diameter: Approximately 9 mm. Depth: Approximately 1             cm.         -   Receptacle.—Diameter: Approximately 3 mm. Depth:             Approximately 2 mm. Color: 154D.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 70.             Shape: Tubular with five lobes each having an acute apex.             Margin: Entire. Length: Approximately 8 mm. Diameter at             apex: Approximately 3 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately             1 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of immature florets: N92B.             Color of mature florets: 96B.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 20.             Arrangement: Imbricate, arranged in several rows. Shape:             Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Length:             Approximately 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 1.9 mm. Texture             of center of outer/lower surface: Rough. Texture of center             of inner/upper surface: Glabrous. Color of center of             outer/lower surface: Closest to 144B. Color of center of             inner/upper surface: Closest to 144C. Texture of margins:             Papery. Color of margins: 157B, transparent.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: At an acute angle to the             stem. Length: Approximately 8.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately             1.3 mm. Texture: Rough. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 4. Anther shape: Linear. Anther             length: Approximately 2 mm. Anther color: 93A. Amount of             pollen: Abundant. Pollen color: 14A. Gynoecium: Present on             ray and disc florets. There is one pistil per floret. Pistil             length: Approximately 6.4 mm. Stigma shape: Two parted.             Stigma length: Approximately 1.3 mm. Stigma color: 79A.             Style length: Approximately 3.3 mm. Style color: Lighter             than N82C. Ovary size: Approximately 1.6 mm. Ovary color:             145C. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Osteospermum has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘Balserlav’, substantially as herein shown and described. 